The UK's best destination dupes for bucket list worthy hotspots - including Rome and Mexico
Dreamed of seeing the Northern Lights in Norway or hitting the beach in Mexico?
What if you could do that without leaving the UK?
The expert team at Hoseasons holiday homes have revealed the UK's best destination dupes that might have you believing you've left the country.
The experts say: 'We all have those bucket list destinations that we hope to finally visit someday, whether it's to experience a new culture, take in the natural wonders or even just relax on the beach.
'Unfortunately, it can take some time before we're able to jet off to these locales, but sometimes you're able to get a taste of them, without even leaving the country.'
Switch the Lofoten Islands for the Orkney Islands
Norway's stunning Lofoten Islands are one of the world's best destinations to see the Northern Lights.
But if they're a little out of budget, Hoseasons has come up with an alternative option right here in the UK.
While sightings aren't guaranteed, holidaymakers are in with a chance of seeing the Northern Lights from Scotland's pretty Orkney Islands.
Hoseasons says: 'The Orkney Islands are in the very north of Scotland, much closer to the Arctic Circle than the rest of the UK and have lower levels of light pollution compared to more densely populated areas. This means conditions are often just right for the Northern Lights to put on a show.'
Swap Rome for Bath
The Eternal City is one of Europe's top destinations and has 14 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
But if Rome's crowds and high prices have put you off, Hoseasons has found another Roman hotspot in the UK.
The experts say: 'Bath might not have quite the same level of architectural marvels but it certainly caters to those hungry for history, culture and romance on a short break.
'The city's roots can be traced back to ancient Roman times and when it comes to romance, Bath's allure is hard to resist.'
Ditch Manly for Newquay
When it comes to beaches, Australia is top of many tourists' bucket lists. And Manly, with its 'incredible golden beaches' and 'crystal clear water' is a dreamy destination.
But if you're looking for clean beaches that are ideal for surfing, Newquay in Cornwall could be the answer.
Hoseasons says: 'This Cornish seaside town is often cited as the surfing capital of the UK, so if you can't travel to the other side of the world to ride the waves, then Newquay might be the next best thing.
'Whilst Cornwall may not be able to compete with the Australian temperatures, it is still home to the longest coastline in the UK, providing plenty of opportunities for sunbathing during the summer months, and you don't have to travel across the world to visit!'
Change Mexico for the Outer Hebrides
Mexico's white sand beaches, palm trees and enticing water make it a dream holiday destination for many.
However, if a long haul flight isn't your cup of tea, Hoseasons says you don't need to leave the UK at all to enjoy Mexican-like beaches.
The travel experts reveal: 'It may come as a surprise, but many of the sandy shores here look like something straight out of Central America.
'Some of the most beautiful beaches in the Outer Hebrides include Seilebost and Luskentyre on the Isle of Harris and Reef Beach on the Isle of Lewis. It's the same crystal-clear waters and soft sand as Mexico, just probably without the tan lines.'
Drop Savoie for Snowdonia
Savoie in the beautiful French Alps is famed for its breathtaking landscapes and incredible ski resorts.
It might not have Mont Blanc, but Wales' Snowdonia (Eryri) national park is a worthy alternative to Savoie, according to the travel experts.
Hoseasons says: 'Wales' renowned national park is blessed with a variety of adrenaline-pumping activities, not to mention a pretty impressive mountain of its own.
' is no mean feat.'
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BBC News
26 minutes ago
- BBC News
Opportunity to give Cheltenham's historic last tram a new life
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Times
2 hours ago
- Times
18 of the best Croatian islands to visit
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This article contains affiliate links which may earn us revenue Best for that castaway feelingThe sailing set and day-trippers from Hvar will know about this little archipelago in full view of Hvar Town. Clubbers in particular will be on the taxi boats going to and from the island outpost of Carpe Diem club on Marinkovac, one of 16 islands in this archipelago. The biggest is Sveti Klement, home to a handful of hotels and holiday rentals, secluded coves and a patchwork of olive groves and vineyards. Follow rocky footpaths to bijou harbours and waterside restaurants serving just-off-the-boat fish. Choose one of four luxurious suites — all with their own pools and/or hot tubs — at Zori Timeless Hotel, in a sheltered bay in Sveti Klement. • Read our full guide to CroatiaBest for car-free daysTake the 30-minute ferry from Sibenik and you're in Zlarin's three square miles of laid-back loveliness. No cars are allowed here, just two feet and two wheels. 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Soak up the history of the Heritage Hotel Martinis Marchi, a 300-year-old former palace in the pretty port of Maslinica with a pool and gorgeous for the feelgood factorWhen the 19th-century Habsburg emperor Franz Joseph inhaled the herb-scented air of Losinj, he fell in love with this long thin island in the Kvarner Gulf. Losinj is as relaxing and healing as ever, with the fragrance of wild thyme, pine, rosemary, juniper and helichrysum inducing a welcome sense of bliss. Wander past the baroque sea captains' houses of the main village, Mali Losinj, and its Venetian-style near neighbour, Veli Losinj, before going for a swim in the emperor's favourite Cikat Bay. Feast on lamb from the neighbouring island of Cres on the waterside terrace of Lanterna Grill after a bike ride on the pine-scented footpath that rings parts of the island. 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In a prime harbourfront spot in Hvar Town, Adriana Hvar Spa Hotel has one of the area's best people-watching restaurant terraces and a rooftop pool. • More of the best hotels in Hvar Best for room to roamCres is tied with its Kvarner Gulf neighbour Krk as Croatia's largest island, but with more sheep than people there's plenty of space to go round this long, strangely shaped island. And with all those sheep, it's not surprising that you'll find some of the best lamb in Croatia. The biggest settlement is Cres Town, a pretty little place of Venetian houses sheltered in a deep harbour with laid-back waterfront restaurants. If you want quiet, pebbly beaches, you're in luck. Some, such as Kruscica on the eastern coast, need a bit of effort to get to, but Lubenice and Valun are easier to reach. Pop into the tiny wildlife sanctuary near the village of Beli and catch glimpses of rare griffon vultures. The Isolano, Cres, Autograph Collection is a luxuriously chic addition to the otherwise sleepy Cres Town, with an infinity pool, spa, excellent restaurant and direct beach access. • Best luxury villas in Croatia• Best beaches in CroatiaBest for charming villagesIt's easy to reach Krk, thanks to the bridge that attaches the island to the Croatian mainland. Most visitors head to the south to Baska beach — lots of sunloungers, water sports and beach cafés — along with slightly quieter spots including Stara Baska. Get a sense of the island's long history by strolling around Krk Town's Venetian-style marble alleyways past medieval fortified towers. If you like your wine crisp and white, visit the charming village of Vrbnik, which produces the indigenous zlahtina wine from its neighbouring vineyards. Vrbnik also has the dubious distinction of having one of the narrowest streets in the world, Klancic, which at just over 40cm wide is probably best avoided after a heavy lunch. The family-run Hotel Villa Margaret is on Malinska's waterfront on the northern coast, and features a pool, spa, bathing platforms and home-grown produce in the for seclusionBy the time you reach far-flung Lastovo, you're practically on your way to Italy. It's actually on a regular ferry route from Split and Korcula, but this small island does make you feel as if you have pitched up in the back of beyond, in the most agreeable way. Home to fewer than 1,000 people, the entire island, along with its archipelago, is a nature park. The idea here is to walk the forested trails around the island, stopping at small coves for a refreshing dip, maybe hiring a kayak and going over to one of the scattered islands for a bit of snorkelling. It's barren but beautiful, a rugged place where tiny mountain restaurants will serve you peka — meat and vegetables cooked for hours over flames in a pot with a bell-shaped pan lid — while waterside cafés offer local lobster. The guesthouse Augusta Insula has smart rooms and apartments in the yachtie hotspot of Zaklopatica Bay, where there's a pool, large terrace, wonderful views and a for lazy ramblesWhile day-trippers from Dubrovnik pile into boat trips that cram in all three of the inhabited Elaphiti islands in a day, visitors in less of a hurry will stick to just one and feel time slow down for a while. That's what you get on Sipan: although it's the largest of the trio and the only one that allows cars, life here is hardly rushed. Hire a bike to cover the three miles between the two villages of Sudurad and Sipanska Luka, passing olive groves and vineyards. You should spot some of the ruins of the 15th-century palaces built by Dubrovnik nobility in search of an island bolt hole. They had the right idea. Set into a pine-covered slope near Sudurad's ferry port is Hotel Bozica, whose outdoor pool and restaurant overlook the sea and swimming for boat tripsIf you've been paying attention to Croatia's dance music festivals over the past couple of decades, you'll have seen the Garden Tisno pop up regularly as the host of everything from SunćeBeat to Defected Croatia. But cross the little bridge from the festival site and you'll come to the chilled-out island of Murter. Away from the dance crowds you'll find cute little villages and pebbly beaches, as well as a museum revealing Murter's proud heritage as an island of shipbuilders. It's no surprise, then, that it's a popular launching point for visits to the mesmerising islands of the Kornati National Park. Ultra-modern Zakan's five apartments are stacked like white cubes opposite Bettina harbour. All have terraces and sea views, and the penthouse has its own hot for beachesLopud island, an easy ferry ride from Dubrovnik, is home to some of the finest beaches in Croatia, which considering that the country has a coastline about 3,700 miles long, is no mean feat. The serene arc of Sunj to the south of this peaceful island rivals the wild sands of Nin near Zadar for beauty and peace. RMH Lopud Lafodia rises like twin cruise ships divided by cascading gardens and is a 20-minute walk from Sunj beach. Pools, a huge spa, bathing platforms and five restaurants and bars will keep you entertained. Mary Novakovich is the author of My Family and Other Enemies: Life and Travels in Croatia's Hinterland (£8.99; • Best things to do in Croatia
The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
Eurostar vows to run direct trains from UK to Germany and Switzerland
Eurostar has vowed to run direct trains from the UK to Germany and Switzerland, as it attempts to fend off potential competitors eyeing its London depot space. The cross-Channel rail operator's chief executive, Gwendoline Cazenave, said she had no doubt the direct services would run in the early 2030s despite the failure of previous ventures to connect London and Frankfurt. Eurostar said the conditions were now 'finally right' and it was ready for a 'new golden age of international sustainable travel', as it reiterated plans to buy up to 50 new trains. Total passenger numbers for Eurostar grew 5% last year, and a number of other possible players have announced plans to break into its monopoly on train services between Britain and France. However, the rail regulator, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), has said that there is only depot space in London for one more operator – or for Eurostar to expand. The ORR has asked Eurostar and its rivals to submit plans, for a decision later this year, on how to allocate the space in the Temple Mills depot in east London. Sir Richard Branson's Virgin group has announced plans for a 12-train cross-Channel service, while a similar-sized operation could be run by a British startup, Gemini Trains, chaired by the Labour peer Lord Berkeley. The Italian state railway FS Italiane is also looking to enter the market in a joint venture with a Spanish company, Evolyn. Eurostar has insisted there is no space in the depot, particularly if its own growth plans go ahead. It has indicated it would help fund a new depot, although it has called on the UK government to develop a 'clear national strategy for supporting international rail'. It is targeting direct trains from London to Frankfurt and Geneva, taking about five hours to the German financial hub and about 20 minutes more to the Swiss city. It said that the number of flights operating on the routes showed the strong demand for travel – and many business and leisure passengers would now wish to take the train instead to travel more sustainably. The next generation of trains would also be able to handle the complexities of different systems and these longer routes. Creating the new connections will require a number of hurdles to be overcome, including establishing border controls, station infrastructure, and timetable paths, a spokesperson said. Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion However, Cazenave told the PA news agency that she had 'no doubt' the new direct services would happen because of the 'willingness' of Eurostar, passengers and governments. The UK and Switzerland signed a memorandum of understanding last month aimed at establishing direct train services between the countries. Eurostar said its revenues grew 2% to €2bn (£1.7bn) in 2024, with passenger numbers across its services – including those within France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany – up to 19.5 million. It has yet to select a manufacturer for its planned €2bn train order. Eurostar, meanwhile, confirmed it will boost the frequency of its direct trains to the Netherlands after the completion of building work at the international terminus in Amsterdam in February, allowing it to board a full complement of 850 passengers. A fourth daily return service between London St Pancras and Amsterdam will run from 9 September, and a fifth one will start in mid-December.
